2026 MTB Tech Rumors and Innovation - Longer and Slacker

@Jason_Schroeder is on all the new RockShox and SRAM stuff. Find the details and reviews here.

2027 RockShox Boxxer and Vivid Coil
https://www.vitalmtb.com/features/first-ride-2027-rockshox-boxxer-and-v…

SRAM XX DH Transmission
https://www.vitalmtb.com/features/sram-finally-made-wireless-electronic…
https://youtu.be/-DfDmJooZCg

SRAM Maven B1 Swinglink Brakes
https://www.vitalmtb.com/features/make-em-easier-pull-sram-maven-b1-swi…
https://youtu.be/QWlL1CzbD3o

new mondraker summum w/ sram goods - https://www.vitalmtb.com/news/press-release/mondraker-launches-new-summum

new pivot phoenix w/ sram goods - https://www.vitalmtb.com/news/press-release/pivot-introduces-special-ed…

My prediction almost came true. Just gotta swap the link out rather than having an adjustable dial on the lever. 

I need me a butter wagon. 

I think the answer is probably since I believe a Zeb has already been spotted numerous times with the new LinearXL AirAnnex visible. If they carry over that feature to the Zeb they will probably carry the ButterWagonTech (lol wtf) as well. 

I was hoping for a 3.2 damper upgrade for the Zeb today too....

This is the DH family release day. 
The new Zeb with all this tech is coming. Just have to wait until March or early April (definitely by or before Sea Otter). 
 

@Jason_Schroeder Your initial review of these updated/new Mavens talked a lot about the 'pump out' (I think you're referencing pump out and wandering bite point with that same phase a few times?). Saying the new brakes have mostly addressed/fixed that. However, the Pinkbike review makes no mention of that and still says you need to do a piston massage and good bleed to remove any of those pump-out/wandering bite-point issues. And I don't see any press from SRAM noting this issue as being 'fixed'. 

From your article, it sounds like SRAM told you the changes addressed this issue(?) Or, are you saying that it seemed like SRAM addressed the issue, as you only had those two small instances of the bite-point not being perfect? Because that could just be that the new brakes you rode were bled and massaged properly vs. the others you have ridden in the past. 

Obviously, a good bleed with Mavens is imperative for lever feel/bite-point. I bled mine recently, went for a ride, and had a wandering bite point all of a sudden. Went back, bled them again, got a few more small bubbles out, and now they feel amazing and zero wandering bite point. 

😳

Insane prices for questionable/marginal benefit. Not that i have a dh bike, but if there's one bike where i would want my components to be as simple, min-maxed, and beep-boop free as possible, that would be it. I can't help but think this is more of a showcase "halo" item and marketing exercise. 

Good god, only offering it at the XX level? I could have maybe been talked into a GX version but holy smokes. 

SRAM always rolls out the top end drivetrain stuff first, then lower end stuff in later model years. Otherwise people would just buy the lower end stuff for the 'same performance' but higher weight and they don't make as much money.

https://www.specialized.com/us/en/shop/bikes/mountain-bikes?search=turbolevor&filter=15x1322779329

9K base build LOL

jason's off to another land far away for a diff press camp, so not sure how quickly he'll be able to reply. the vid in his article addresses the topic a bit (i think it's what you're referring to) at around 1:30 - he also mentions similar things in one of the paragraphs.

(if this is not what you're referring to, ignore this, ha)

Thanks for the follow-up @sspomer ... I watched the video and re-read the article. I'm still not entirely sure if he's making assumptions based on the changes or had this exact info told to him. 
-Wandering bite point and "pump out" are different phenomena. I believe (from everything I've heard, the wandering bite point/inconsistency is the bigger issue. He seems to be talking a lot about 'pump out' though. 

He references the new swing link and lower hydraulic pressure (from the smaller 18mm piston instead of 19mm) as 'fixing' these issues because it lets the pistons retract more easily. That doesn't really make sense... The pistons retract when you let off the brakes (don't apply pressure) so the swing-link would have nothing to do with that retraction. And the "hydraulic pressure" is a computation of the master cylinder vs size of pistons. But this is only 'happening' when the brakes are pulled. Most of the Maven's issues occurred when the rider would let off the brakes, then go back to pull them, and the bite point was in a different place. So, again, not sure how hydraulic pressure plays a role here. 

Ultimately, I'm trying to understand if @Jason_Schroeder is saying that he didn't feel pump-out and wandering bite point, and HE is attributing that to the swing-link and smaller pistons. OR if he was straight up told by a SRAM engineer/product person that those changes got rid of the pump-out/wandering bite point issues that some experience. I question this because in all the SRAM PR and Pinkbike article, there is no mention of fixing bite point/pump out issues. I would think that would be highlighted heavily as an improvement. Unless, they is an improvement and SRAM doesn't want to draw any attention to it and is releasing this as 'fix' but not telling people. And Jason is the only one who is publishing this info against the PR team's intentions. Hopefully he can shed some light on this when he returns!  
 

Anyone know when the new Fox 38 will be unveiled? Early March?

Sadly, I'm no longer surprised by the deafening level of whining from people about pro level equipment being expensive.

So wander bite point and pump out are two different things I’ve experienced. Sorry for the confusion. 

Piston message is still needed to get the seals worked in and avoid having a wandering, changing bite point (whether that is a bite point that gets longer or shorter). I’ll need to update the review to clarify that. 

From how I understood it, the new linear lever leverage and slightly lower hydraulic rate helps reduce the chance of lever pump out. Which is when the pistons don’t recede back into the caliper during repetitive brake pulls. This was taken from notes I had during a presentation, not press info sent after the camp. I could very well get an email from SRAM saying I’ve got this all wrong, but on the trail it was a noticeable improvement. And FWIW, the two sets I’ve ridden experienced way less wandering bite point.

Gotta say, while not a huge specialized fan, there was a while there where i had to be like, don’t love em, but no denying they are doing good shit, but i think the stumpy and all their recent e-bikes have really missed the mark. 

I’m sure the new demo will be good, but that was developed back when all the good shit was being developed. 

Wonder if there were big changes over there, or they just missed. 

All things/options being equal, does a 19.5mm/18mm to 18mm/18mm piston make much of a difference in stopping power?

Would you like us to assign someone to butter your wagon?

The Pivot is definitely a bit of a surprise, considering I don't think they have ever specced a bike from the factory with RockShox. 

at 5:52, this shows some of the specialized R&D/engineering department (before that it's just team stuff)

I think their Mach 4 XC bike has a Sid Ultimate spec. That seems to be a pretty common thing, offering Rockshox stuff on an XC bike even if most of your line is specced with Fox. I've seen it from a few companies (the one that sticks out in my mind is Yeti - though they offered a Rockshox-specced SB120 Lunch Ride for a few years but have since gone back completely to Fox aside from their ASR).

But XC bikes are kind of a different thing.

I also think this is the first time Pivot has offered Rockshox outside of that XC bike.

SRAM must have a lot of faith in the XX chain.  I was expecting a beefy chain to come with this.  That's good news.

STOKED to see Alpinestar working with them on MTB algo for the airbags! Been stoked on that concept for as long as it's been publicly seen for years and been ready for its release to moto. Intend on buying one this spring going into DH season. Means we should hopefully see an MTB algo we can update it at some point. I still think the Moto algo will work great for DH application and be a great product for protection at a higher level

Anyone received this as well and kno what Hayes are cooking? Next gen Dominions? 😁

The XX chain or any of the transmission chains are insanely hard wearing and very strong overall. I have 3 seasons on one that came with the XX groupset and still can't measure any hint of wear using the latest gauges. Probably close to 160,000+M in vert and thousands of kilometers on the MTB. I think they really meant it when they say this system will last the lifetime of the bike.

Some new big stoppers from Hope are in the works.